Centrifugal drier



April 15, 1930. A. w. ALTORFER CENTRIFUGAL DRIER Filed June 23, 1928Patented Apr. 15,. 1930 PATENT OFFICE ALPHEUB w. ALTORI'EB, .OI PEOBIA,ELINOTB canrnnruear. mama Application filed June 23, 1828. Serial Io.887,718.

10 ceptacle, where it may be in excess, due to centrifugal force whichmay unbalance the materials within the receptacle.

The invention has for a further object a counterbalance at the base ofthe extracting receptacle, preferabl in the form of a balance wheel,which unctions as a counterweight to bring to an equipoise thereceptacle when the materials therein become unbalanced as a result ofcentrifugal action.

Other objects will more fully appear from the following description. I

That the invention ma be more fully understood, reference is ha to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this description, illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation,partly in section, showing a form of. centrifugal drier for a washingmachine, and with my counterbalancing mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view through my counterbalancing mechanismand the manner of associating the same with the base of the extractinreceptacle, and

Fig. 3 is a ottom plan view of the counterbalancing mechanism as itwould appear on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout thefigures.

In illustrating the application of my invention to the extractingreceptacle of a washing machine, I have elected to show that characterof device wherein is employed an 5 imperforate receptacle from which thewater extracted from the materials is discharged from over the top ofthe receptacle; but in no sense is this intended to place a limitationon the use of the mechanism, as I am fully aware that it would bepractical to apply the same to a perforated receptacle, as in eachInstance the effect of the balancer is to remove irregularities inweight resulting from centrifugal force which at times distributes thematerials, being dried, unevenly within the receptacle.

The receptacle is designated 1 and is adapted to e rotated from adriving shaft 2, in a manner to be described and said shaft receives itspower from a driving mechanism, not shown, within a housing or casing 3.Said receptacle has an outwardl and downwardly curved rim portion 4:WhlCll normally overlies an inner ring-like wall 5 of a manuallyrotatable housing or turret 6 having a chamber 7 and a radially disposeddrainboard 8 provided with a conductor spout 9 in communication with thechamber of'the housing. The housing is bodil removable and rotatable ona support 10, eing a part of the head frame 11 for the washing tub 12. Aclosure 13 is provided for the receptacle, being adapted to have anengaging relation with the rim 4 thereof and so associated therewith asto provide water passages or egress openings 14. The closure has a balland socket connection 15 with a support 16 hinged in a suitable mannerwith the housing 6, whereby the closure may be opened or closed at will,and the ball and socket connection for the closure allows certainflexibility in the centering of the receptacle. To the bottom of thereceptacle is secured a disk or plate-like member 17.

The counterbalancing mechanism, in addition to employing the member 17,comprises a disk or plate-like member 18provided with a depending hub 19having an opening therethrough, the wall of whlch is grooved, as shownat 20. The shaft 2 is shown splined at 21 in a manner complementary tothe grooves in the hub of the member 18 to provide for a drivingconnection between these parts and to enable an easy slip on and offconnection therebetween.

Having a pivotal connection at 22 and between ears 23 on the rim of themember 18, are a plurality of lever-arms 24 which have ends 25 rejectingabove the top surface of the mem er 18 and. which also have portions 26extending downwardly and normall slightly inwardly of said member, andto sai 19 of the member 18.

portions 26 of the lever-arms 24 are connected sprin s 27, which alsohave connection with studs 28 secured in the hub 19 of the member 18.Supported by the portions 26 of the lever-arms 24 is a balance wheel 29,which, when in operative position encircles the hub The balance wheel 29is preferably formed or provided with an annular bead or rib 30 and theleverrms 24-are provided'with seats 31 to receivesa'd bead or rib. Themember 18,1ever-arms 24, the balance wheel 29 and the springs 27 form aunit placeable onand removable from the shaft 2 and the receptacle 1 andits member 17 have a seating and driving relation with said unit.

\Vhen assembled, the counterbalancing unit is slipped down over the topof the shaft 2, see Fig. 2, and the receptacle 1 is in lowered positionwith its member 17 resting in frictionalengaging relation on the member18 and with contacting points 32 of the lever-arms 24 in bearingrelation with the peripheral edge of the member 17.

In operation, power imparted to the shaft 2 will be transmitted throughthe member 18 to the member 17, resulting in the rotation of thereceptacle 1 and the closure 13, as it is believed-will be understood.Should the materials placed in the receptacle become unbalanced as aresult of centrifugal force the member 17 applying lateral force to oneor more of the lever-arms 24 will oscillate the same, causing a shiftingmovement of the balance wheel 29 which acts to bring the receptacle toan equipoise and remove the irregularities in weight within thereceptacle, where it is in excess, and restore the receptacle tobalance. Balance being restored the springs 27 act to return thelever-arms to normal or neutral position.

It is not uncommon in centrifugal driers of the character hereindescribed, for the materials to become unbalanced, due to centrifugalforce, which not only prevents smooth running of the device but so jarsthe machine as to cause it to creep. With a counterbalancing meansapplied to the receptacle these objections are overcome.

What Iclaim is 1. In a centrifugal clothes drier, in combination,areceptacle, a driving shaft, a counterbalancing means arranged for anaxial sliding connection with said driving shaft, and means on the lowerend of the receptacle arranged for driving connection with saidcounter-balancing means.

2. In a centrifugal clothes drier, in combination, a receptacle, adriving shaft, a counterbalancing means arranged for an axial slidingconnection with said driving shaft and including a. balance wheel, andmeans on the lower end of the receptacle arranged nected with the lowerend of the receptacle and adapted to have a driving relation with saidfirst mentioned disk-like member.

'4. In a centrifugal clothes drier, in combination, a receptacle, adriving shaft, a counterbalancing unit arranged for detachableconnection with said shaft and including a disk-like member, lever-armshaving a pivotal connection with said member, a balance wheel supportedby said arms and movable thereby, spring connections between said memberand said arms, and a disk-like member secured to the lower end of saidreceptacle adapted to have a driving relation with said first mentioneddisk-like member and having points of contact with said lever arms.

5. A counter-balancing unit for the receptacle of a centrifugal clothesdrier, comprising a disk-like member provided with a hub arranged fordetachable connection with a driving part, a plurality of lever-armspivotally connected with the periphery of said member, a balance wheelsupported by and within the confines of said lever-arms, and springconnections between said member and said arms.

In witness whereof, I havehereunto aflixed my hand and seal this 20thday of June, 1928.

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER.

